And it doesn’t stop there. The GUI, although it functions almost exactly the same, has been spackled in an 80’s glaze as well. Add to that a barrage of witty jokes, hilarious weapon descriptions, and comical character bios and what you have is an amazingly crafted menu system crammed with 80’s pop-culture and attitude. Hell, navigating the menu system is almost as much fun as playing the actual game. Almost.

Completing the visual package, 8-bit cutscenes pace the action beautifully, taking intense action and tempering it with ludicrous comedy. If they weren’t intentional these cut scenes would have been a travesty against modern gaming, but their worth was proven every time I completed a mission, and I found myself looking forward to them every time.

However, amazing retro graphics aside, what really makes Blood Dragon an amazing experience is the sound.

Sound is gaming’s most overlooked aspect and it can make or break, any game. Thankfully, it absolutely defines Blood Dragon. The ambient music created by Power Glove sets the 80’s action-flick tone immediately and never slows down. Add to that other iconic songs from the decade and what you get is a soundtrack that transplants you directly to the 80’s.

The music is amazing, sure, but the audio really shines through the voice acting. Michael Biehn (Aliens, Terminator, and The Abyss) makes Rex “Power” Colt come to life, as an obscenity-wielding walking action cliché. His one liners are sure to stick in your head as is his frustration with his HUD. His HUD torments him throughout the game, prompting Rex to respond in comedic fashion. This truly adds to the overall quality of the game, filling slower gameplay with much needed laughs, but also adding a level of insanity to already frantic action sequences.

The culmination of amazing sound, throwback 8-bit cutscenes, excellent graphics, spotless presentation, and enough details from the 80’s to pack a game twice this size; Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon delivers on every front near flawlessly. I can’t count the number of times I threw my head back in laughter, wreaked mass destruction upon my enemies, or did a double-take at an 80’s reference that took a while to sink into my thick skull. None of this is typical DLC fare, and to the folks at Ubisoft I say this: Thank you.

In short, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is one of the best pieces of DLC I have ever seen hit the market. The fact that it doesn’t require the original Far Cry 3 is a huge bonus for gamers, and at the admission price of only 15 bucks, you simply can’t lose. Buy this game.

ByJoshua Bruce
Video Director
Date: April 30, 2013

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

GraphicsThe graphical quality of Far Cry 3 remains intact. The GUI is excellent and the neon filter of the 80’s shines brighter than ever.

4.0

ControlIf you have played Far Cry 3, you won’t find much new here. However, controls do function as well as the original.

5.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingBlood Dragon could not have hoped for a more fitting and masterfully crafted soundscape.

4.5

Play ValueIt’s not terribly long, but there is plenty to do on this island. The ‘80s packed gameplay will have you laughing immediately and keep you laughing indefinitely.

4.7

Overall Rating - Must BuyNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

A kick-ass cyber shooter.

There's only one force powerful enough to stop an army of rampaging killer cyborgs, mutated scientists, metal sharks, and vicious Blood Dragons that shoot lasers from their eyes - that force is you. Your name is Sergeant Rex Power Colt, a Mark IV Cyber Commando. Lock and load as you and your seven favorite fully customizable killing implements tackle a bizarre open world island crawling with evil. Take down the enemy with ninja stars, guns, or even just good old explosives. Your battle. Your way. Their tough luck.

Get the girl, kill the bad guys, and save the world.

As Sergeant Rex Colt, you are part man, part machine, and all American. You are a state-of-the-art Mark IV cyber commando on a mission of vengeance. You're out to bring down your old commanding officer and his battalion of ruthless killer cyborgs, and you'll stop at nothing to get the job done.

Wrapped up in every cliché from the VHS era.

Hollywood action icon Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss), returns in this explosive 1980s-style sci-fi vision of a dark future where cyborgs and mutants collide. So turn off your VCR, plug in your video game cabinet, and get ready to experience all the thrills of Far Cry® 3 Blood Dragon in full stereophonic sound.